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Update The plane wave state for a free particle given by $\psi(x,t)=A\exp[i(kx-\omega t)]$ is completely delocalized in space and time. Therefore, the wavefunction is present everywhere in space at all times. We can, however, 'normalize' this wavefunction, pretending that it is confined in a box of length $L$. In this case, we find, $$\psi(x,t)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{L}}\exp[i(k_nx-\omega t)]$$ with quantized wavenumber $k\rightarrow k_n$. The position probability density has a spatial profile $$\rho(x)=\psi^*\psi=1/L$$ which is independent of time (like any other stationary state). Moreover, the probability of finding the particle is same everywhere at all times. But if we calculate the probability current (flow) it is nonzero: $$j(x)=-\frac{\hbar k}{m}\frac{1}{L}\neq 0.$$ For example, $J_\phi$, the azimuthal component of the current is nonzero in Hydrogen atom for the stationary states.

Therefore, although the spatial profile of position probability density does not change with time, there is a propagation!

How do we interpret this? Should it be interpreted that at any point $x$ the influx of probability is equal to the outflux such that the probability amplitude at any point remains constant in time?

SRS
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The solution for a box is a periodic solution. You can imagine that the particle exits the box, say, through the right wall of the box (I did not check the sign) and immediately enters through the left wall of the box. You may say that this picture is not reasonable, but these solutions are simple and useful. If you want more reasonable solutions for a box, you need to set such boundary conditions at the walls that the current at the walls vanishes. You will then have standing wave solutions, and the probability density will change in time, in accordance with the intuition.

As for the non-vanishing azimuthal component of the current in the hydrogen atom, it corresponds to orbital motion of electrons (along closed trajectories, if we use the correspondence principle).

akhmeteli
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